Argumentive Essay

How to Write an Argument Essay
By Grace Fleming, About.com Guide
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Planning Stage
For an argument essay to be effective, it must contain certain elements. For this reason, you must take a few minutes to plan before you jump into writing an argument essay.
Find a Good Topic
To find good topic for an argument essay you should consider several issues that will have two conflicting points of view or very different conclusions. As you look over a list of topics you should find one that really sparks your interest.
While a strong interest in a topic is important, it’s not enough. You next have to consider what position you can back up with reasoning. It’s one thing to have a strong belief, but when shaping an argument you’ll have to explain why your belief is reasonable and logical.
As you explore the topics, make a mental list of points you could use as evidence for or against an issue.
Consider Both Sides of Your Topic and Take a Position
Once you have selected a topic you feel strongly about, you should make a list of points for both sides of the argument. One of your first objectives in your essay will be to present both sides of your issue with an assessment of each. Of course, you will conclude that one side (your side) is the best conclusion.
In the planning stage you will need to consider strong arguments for the “other” side. Then you’ll shoot them down!
Gather Evidence
When we think of arguments we...